Morocco is one step closer to the trophy. The team has become the first nation to book a spot in the semi-finals of this year’s FIFA Arab Cup.
The North African side secured their qualification on Thursday. They claimed a gritty 1-0 victory over Syria at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar.
The match was defined by strong defense. The Syrian team offered stiff resistance and held the scoreline level for most of the game.
However, the deadlock finally broke in the 79th minute. Morocco scored the decisive goal, taking the lead just as time was running out.
Late Drama
The victory came despite a chaotic finish for the Moroccan squad.
Player Mohamed Mfid received a red card towards the end of the match. The dismissal was particularly notable. Mfid had been on the pitch for only four minutes before the referee sent him off.
Looking Ahead
With this win, Morocco is the first team to officially qualify for the semi-final stage.
They now await their next opponent. Morocco will face the winner of the upcoming match between Algeria and the United Arab Emirates. That game is scheduled for Friday.
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